Beatty's Chocolate Cake (Barefoot Contessa)

Name: Beatty's Chocolate Cake (Barefoot Contessa)
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: butter, for greasing the pans; 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans; 2 cups sugar; 3/4 cup good cocoa powder; 2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 cup buttermilk, shaken; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee; 6 ounces good semisweet chocolate (recommended -- Callebaut); 1/2 lb unsalted butter, at room temperature; 1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar; 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

Submitted by Brookelynne26

"Don't skip the coffee, it's what makes this cake so delicious."

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Ready In:: 35mins
Ingredients:: 18
Serves:: 8

ingredients

butter, for greasing the pans
1 ³⁄₄ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
2 cups sugar
³⁄₄ cup good cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk, shaken
¹⁄₂ cup vegetable oil
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
Chocolate Frosting
6 ounces good semisweet chocolate (recommended -- Callebaut)
¹⁄₂ lb unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ¹⁄₄ cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

directions

Chocolate Buttercream, recipe follows
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.
Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.
Next make the frosting:.
Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake.

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Reviews

This is a perfect chocolate cake. I've made dozens of different recipes for chocolate cake and this one is the best. The flavor is well balanced, chocolately and smooth and the buttermilk yields a very moist cake. I used this for my son's 3rd birthday cake and he was very happy with it. It held up perfectly in the Wilton Train Shaped Cake pan without yielding crumbs and decorated beautifully. It's the only chocolate cake recipe that I'll ever need. The review about it being too coffeeish is very surprising considering I do not like coffee and couldn't taste it. I guess some taste buds are more sensitive. Highly recommended.

Srt
I have all of Ina's books and adore them. I have made many of her recipes which are "special", however in this case, even though it looked stunning I found it to be far to coffeeish. Now I make a dynamite brownie recipe using coffee and it just brings out the chocolate, this is far too much. You really notice it. Linda

Linda Saslove
This cake was a big hit in our house! Ina is the best.

Spicycooker

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Brookelynne26

I'm a stay at home mom to a super spunky little girl. She's only 18 months and already full of personality. I love recipezaar and am just getting into the contests and events. It's really helping me break out of my cooking rut. I really appreciate anyone who takes the time to review or post a photo of any of my recipes, good or bad. After all we all have different tastes and suggestions for improvement are always welcome.

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